China Boils Under 40-Degree Heatwave as Power Demand Soars

Power Outages Reported in Some Areas as Heatwave Persists

As the heatwave continues across China, causing a surge in electricity demand, authorities have launched emergency measures to stabilize the power grid.

The China Central Meteorological Observatory extended the yellow high-temperature warning at 6 a.m. on July 7. Central Meteorological Observatory website

On July 7, Yonhap News quoted China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, reporting that the China Central Meteorological Observatory extended the yellow high-temperature warning at 6 a.m. (local time) that day.

According to the report, daytime highs of 37 to 39 degrees Celsius are forecast for eastern, southern, and northwestern regions of China. In some areas, such as the Turpan Basin in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the southwestern part of Shandong Province, temperatures are expected to soar above 40 degrees Celsius.

The heatwave is also driving up electricity consumption. State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported that on July 4, the national power load reached an all-time high of 1.465 billion kilowatts. This figure is 200 million kilowatts higher than at the end of June, and 150 million kilowatts higher than the same period last year. In the densely populated eastern region of China, the power load was recorded at 422 million kilowatts. Demand for electricity due to air conditioning accounted for 37% of the total.

Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, and central Hubei provinces have each set new power load records nine times already this summer. According to Xinhua News Agency, Shandong Province set a new record on July 3, with the power load reaching 114.83 million kilowatts. Some residents in cities such as Qingdao, Shandong Province, reported recent power outages on social networking services (SNS).

Authorities stated that the nationwide power supply remains stable. However, with high temperatures expected to continue until July 10, they forecast that electricity demand will surge in eastern and central regions.

On July 4, the National Energy Administration announced via social networking services (SNS) that it would "quickly resolve the issue through maximum generation capacity and interregional cooperation."